BLS (Basic Life Support) Training and Education

We provide training and education for thousands of EMTs and first responders representing 30 fire departments in King County. These men and women are the backbone of emergency care in the county. You'll see why you're in good hands when you call 911.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) continuing education

We develop and produce the continuing education and Competency Based Training (CBT) for EMTs in King County. We coordinate and sponsor annual workshops to certify CBT instructors and provide them with updated information and instructor skills used in teaching at their individual agencies.

We have also created and produced a video called, "Pediatric Sick/Not Sick" currently available by contacting our office.

NOTE: King County EMS Online Training is accessible only to EMS providers who have established EMS Online accounts with King County EMS. Your training officer can submit your name and obtain your username and password. For further information or technical support, please contact us using our online form or call the EMS Division at 206-296-4693.

EMT classes

We offer two EMT-B classes per year, designed primarily for members of King County fire agencies. Our EMT classes are 120 hours of classroom and practical work with 10 hours of hospital observation time. These classes are held in fire stations in the Spring and Fall of each year. Information regarding eligibility and class schedules can be obtained from your sponsoring agency.

If you are currently not enrolled in a King County fire agency, we suggest considering the following local community colleges which offer a full EMT training program:

EMT certification

One of our roles within the state and county EMS community is to serve as the liaison between the State Department of Health and all 34 fire agencies within King County. We do this by providing to the EMS community all pertinent and important information from the state regarding continuing education, recertification and important regulation and policy changes.

Defibrillation training -- The Essence of Life!

King County EMS started to explore the concept of early defibrillation in the mid to late 1970s. Dr. Mickey Eisenberg was interested, along with Dr. Leonard Cobb, in the concept of using these unique machines in Aid Cars of the local fire departments.

King County EMS began studies to assess patient outcome in specific situations. At this time, we had specific areas with Medic One units as well as geographic areas without Medic One units. This was a perfect scenario to ascertain the patient outcome with defibrillation and ALS services and without ALS services. The data compiled was interesting, to say the least. Outcome without early defibrillation was minimal -- less than 8% survival. With early defibrillation and no ALS services the survival rate was 26%. With early defibrillation and ALS services the survival rate was 38%.

We recognized the importance of early CPR to improve patient outcome for cardiact arrests. Along with the Medic 2 program we initiated citizen CPR and dispatcher assisted CPR.

With this data in hand, we recognized that in order to give the best care to the citizens of King County we needed to add early defibrillation training to the EMTs of King County. Defibrillation was added to the EMT classes in the 1980s. We were the first EMS division in the world to recognize the importance of EMTs and First Responders in providing early defibrillation and an increase in patient survival rates.

Dr. Richard Cummins took the lead, and with his help we also changed the American Heart Association's protocol for CPR.

We are continuing to help improve our patients' survivability to this lethal situation. We continue to gain data and are looking for better responses from our aid cars. In adding Public Access Defibrillation (PAD), we expect to see even better results in the future.

We are saving 46% of all patients found in Ventriculation Fibrillation (VF) sudden death. Compared to cities that save 3-4%, this is exceptional. It comes from hard work and continuing education of the firefighters and paramedics of this county.

Early Defibrillation Program

The overall goal of the Early Defibrillation Program is to resuscitate the greatest number of persons from sudden cardiac arrest. The program reaches this goal by meeting the following program objectives:

Ensure program quality improvement through field event quality assurance and continuous program improvement

Promote the consistent use of well-maintained defibrillation equipment

The specific goals of the Defibrillation Standing Orders are:

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) is to be shocked repeatedly and as rapidly as possible

Effective CPR is to be performed and interrupted for a minimum time

Overall patient care and safety are never to be neglected

The Automated External Defibrillation training course requires approximately four hours of classroom and practical training, provided by King County EMS (or a fire department local course director that has been approved by KCEMS). Practical training for this course is scenario based. The EMT-D is required to attend a defibrillation Continuing Education (CE) session during each quarter of a twelve-month period.

The Defibrillation Quality Assurance Coordinator reviews recordings of field cardiac arrest events. An assessment of the overall performance for each VF case reviewed, including any noted areas requiring improvement or additional training, is sent to the agency's Training Officer (or other designated person). When trends or frequently observed performance concerns are noted during event recording reviews, the Training Coordinator is informed of such concerns, in order to identify methods of improving performance throughout the program.

Resources

In King County there are two recognized levels of pre-hospital care, Paramedic and EMT-B. In all counties in Washington State except for King, you may be able to reciprocate your current recognized level of care. In King County, you can only reciprocate as an EMT-B. The following steps are required to gain reciprocity as an EMT-B from other states or the National Registry.

Step 1

Complete a Health Department approved HIV/AIDS Prevention class (Note: you must complete the 7-hour course approved for Washington state). Visit the WA State Dept. of Health's HIV/AIDS Training for Licensure webpage for a list of approved organizations that have web-based applications that can help you meet this requirement.

Step 2

If you do not already possess a National Registry Basic Card, you will need to obtain one. If you have a National Registry Card and have not re-tested within a year from the time it was issued (written exam) then you will need to take the National Registry Assessment Exam for Washington State. This exam is administered through the National Registry. Information on how to do this can be found at the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians website.

Step 3

Complete parts 1-3 of Out-of-State reciprocity application (PDF). Be sure to read the instructions, print it out and complete it in ink. If you have any question on this application please call 360-236-4700 to speak to someone for clarification.

Step 4

Complete the EMS Verification Form (part 4 of the application). After completing the EMS Verification Form send it directly to the state EMS office in which you obtained your credential. If you do not, it will delay your Washington State credential from being issued.

You can usually find the address for your state office by using the internet. Use your favorite internet search to search for YOUR State then EMS. The purpose of this form allows the state from where you hold your current certification to disclose your EMS records to Washington State. If you are only National Registry Certified you do not need to complete this part of the application.

Step 5

Please DO NOT send the documents to the address on the EMS Reciprocity / Challenge Application Packet.

Send the following documents to Blake Harrison, Program Manager, EMS Licensing and Certification at the information listed below:

Step 6

EMS Supervisor / Medical Program Director Signature Form. This is the last part of the application process and the form in your Application packet. You are eligible for certification as an EMT-B in Washington State when you find agency affiliation. Your next step is to gain agency affiliation with a pre-hospital care agency such as ambulance or fire service in Washington state.

For those seeking an ER or surgery Tech position, these are not considered to be pre-hospital care agencies and will not work in order to obtain a Washington State credential. Depending on the institution your National Registry certification may suffice instead, you will need to check with the institution that you wish to seek employment with for clarification.

When you find an agency to affiliate with, you will need to complete the EMS Supervisor / Medical Program Director Signature Form with your prospective agency in which you wish to work or volunteer. Your agency supervisor will then send it to our office for MPD signature. We will then send it the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) who will then issue your credential. An EMT-B card will be mailed to you at the address on the application within 6 weeks time. If there is a problem with your application DOH will contact you directly for clarification by letter.

If you have any further questions regarding reciprocity or challenge in King County, you may contact Blake Harrison at (206) 263-8576 or by e-mail at: blake.harrison@kingcounty.gov